Federal rule (Mid-Atlantic federal waters) · New Jersey lists none of its own
Mode-specific limits raised from 20 fish in 2026 under MSB Framework Adjustment 17 (NOAA species page updated Aug 2026).
NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026 · checked · the official rulebook is the final word
Often mistaken for
Atlantic chub mackerelDusky spots below the midline, bigger eye. Tell them apartNot listed by New Jersey: the default applies (No size limit, no bag limit).
Spanish mackerelGold spots, southern. Tell them apartKeep the wrong fish and its rule applies.
New Jersey state record
NJ DEP Fish & Wildlife State Record Saltwater Fish · checked 2026-09-04
How to tell it
Bold black wavy bars over a metallic blue-green back with a CLEAN silver belly; finlets to the tail. More on the Atlantic mackerel page: every state’s rule, the records, and how anglers catch it.
Atlantic mackerel in other states8 rulebooks
Questions anglers ask5
What is the size limit for Atlantic mackerel in New Jersey?
No size limit.
How many Atlantic mackerel can you keep in New Jersey?
25 per person per trip (private); 50 per person per trip (for-hire).
When is Atlantic mackerel season in New Jersey?
All year.
What is the New Jersey record Atlantic mackerel?
4 lb 1 oz, Manasquan Ridge (1983).
How current is this New Jersey Atlantic mackerel rule?
Source: NOAA GARFO / MAFMC 2026, last checked Sep 20, 2026. A watchman re-reads the agency's pages nightly. Rules change mid-season by proclamation; the official rulebook is the final word.
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